Tag Archives: Japan

Group E at first glance appears to be all about the battle for second place. The Netherlands are easily the team to beat and will be favored to stroll through the group. Bert Van Marwijk’s team enjoyed an easy qualifying campaign and have been in imperious form in the friendlies leading up to South Africa.

The Netherlands will open up against Denmark, the Danes being no pushover when it comes to World Cup play. In fact, in three previous Cup appearances, Morten Olsen’s side have never failed to advance to the Round of 16.

Cameroon still holds the record for best ever finish by an African team at the World Cup and the Indomitable Lions will hope to repeat or better their quarterfinal appearance from the 1990 World Cup.

Japan meanwhile are in their fourth consecutive finals and will be hoping to advance to the knockout stage for only the second time, the first being in 2002 when they co-hosted the tournament with South Korea.

After performing superbly at the 2002 World Cup which they co-hosted, Japan were brought back down to earth with a group stage exit in Germany four years ago. This time around at the 2010 World Cup I South Africa, the national team will again look to prove that they can do the business away from home in the World Cup. There are lots of questions surrounding this team however and their ability to defeat world football’s best teams. In a difficult Group E alongside the Netherlands, Cameroon, and Denmark, Japan have their work cut out for them if they are to advance to the Round of 16. Should they do so they will have defied the odds and silenced the critics at the same time